FLINT, Michigan — They described Richard A. Short as a friendly helper — he chauffered his elderly neighbor with dimentia to her appointments, picked up her prescription medications and helped feed her, doctors said.

But Genesee County authorities say Short, a convicted embezzler, was also bilking the 86-year-old woman out of thousands of dollars.

Today marked the first day of testimony in Short's preliminary examination, after which Central District Judge Christopher Odette is expected to determine whether there is enough evidence to send Short to trial on the fraud charges.

Witnesses for the prosecution testified that the elderly woman had dimentia and wasn't able to care for herself or accomplish most day-to-day tasks. They said Short often accompanied her to her appointments and took an interest in her physical and mental well-being.

Short was charged with the crimes just days after it was revealed that the state granted a $9.1 million state tax break to Short’s company, RASCO, not knowing that Short was on parole in Genesee County after serving prison time for embezzlement and bank loan fraud. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has called for an investigation into the RASCO snafu.

Short also was charged with violating his parole.

Short's attorney, Anthony Vance, said the RASCO deal should remain separate from the fraud case. He said the woman wasn't able to take herself to the bank, and that was one of the tasks Short did for her.

"It's unfortunate because of RASCO thing and his parole status — maybe it's disallowing an objective view," Vance said. "Hopefully we can show this was just a neighbor helping someone out."

Short is being held in the Genesee County Jail on a $9.2 million bond.

He was escorted into the courtroom in handcuffs and leg chains, carrying a clear plastic bag of note paper and files. He often took notes during the testimony but didn't speak to anyone aside from his attorney.

Dr. Matthew Weiss, who examined Short's elderly neighbor on three occasions, said she told Weiss that she would give Short cash for gasoline and to compensate him for running errands.

Weiss, a geriatrics specialist based in Genesee County, said the woman did not recall giving Short access to her finances.

Weiss said the woman, who had previously been a target of fraud by another individual, was "vulnerable" and needed someone like a bank trustee or a conservator to help with her finances.

"She needed someone to oversee and assist with all of her financial affairs," he said. "This needed to be an independent authority."